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Steller Sea Lion
Steller Sea Lion
Information
Range The coasts of Japan, United States and Russia
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Otariidae
Genus Eumetopias
Species Eumetopias jubatus
Conservation Status
ENSpecies
Endangered

The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is a species of pinniped belonging to the otariid family, which lives in the Pacific Ocean.

Description[]

Adult animals are lighter in color than most sea lions, ranging from pale yellow to tawny and occasionally reddish. Steller sea lion pups are born almost black, weighing around 23 kg (51 lb), and remain dark in coloration for several months. Females and males both grow rapidly until the fifth year, after which female growth slows considerably. Adult females measure 2.3–2.9 m (7.5–9.5 ft) in length, on average being 2.5 m (8.2 ft), and weigh 240–350 kg (530–770 lb), with an average of 263 kg (580 lb). Males continue to grow until their secondary sexual traits appear in their fifth to eighth year. Males are slightly longer than the females, growing to about 2.82–3.25 m (9.3–10.7 ft) long and averaging 3 m (9.8 ft) in length. Males have much wider chests, necks, and general forebody structure. Males can weigh between 450–1,120 kg (990–2,470 lb), weighing on average 544 kg (1,199 lb). Males are further distinguished from females by broader and higher foreheads, flatter snouts, and a thick mane of coarse hair around their large necks. It is fitting then that their Latin name translates roughly as "maned one with the broad forehead".

Range[]

Its habitat is northern and includes coasts or coastal marshes around the outer continental shelf of the North Pacific rim, from Japan and its Okhotsk Sea that forms a large part of the countries of Russia and Japan, through the Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea and along the coasts of Alaska in the United States, reaching its limit along California. They have been rarely recorded in the waters of China and South Korea.

Their habitat consists of coastal marshes, coasts or other areas of large range, they are not migratory species, but several juveniles of this species have reached areas too far.

Ecology[]

As previously mentioned they usually wallow in the sand to relax or protect themselves from the sun, although another curious fact is about their threats in the environment, which can become cosmopolitan species such as the famous killer whale (Orcinus orca), which is its main predator along with the fierce and well known great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) being its favorite food, although it also has predators not so well known as the pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus), which is a very curious shark.

Behavior and life history[]

Because they spend most of their time in the water it is somewhat difficult to study their social behaviors, although several studies can confirm that they live in large groups like other species of sea lions, they have also been seen to produce an extensively wide range of sounds with which to communicate with each other. A curious behavior is that they tend to look for sand among themselves, so they can roll around and protect themselves mostly from the sun, although this can also happen to relax with each other. Their communication is based on body postures and vocalizations which are low frequency and are compared to a growl, which in the mating season males tend to raise these frequencies in search of territory or the right to mate.

Diet[]

Steller sea lions often spend a great deal of time in the water, leading them to consume a variety of aquatic vertebrates such as salmon, mackerel, cod, Pacific herring, flatfish, sturgeon, Alaska pollock or other fish, although they have also been shown attacking and feeding on ringed seals, harbor seals and juvenile sea lions. Common food items include fish, but when conditions become difficult, cannibalism may occur, with juvenile Steller sea lions being consumed naked.

Lifespan[]

A rare and remarkable feature of the species is that females usually live to about 30 years of age, while males rarely survive into their mid-teens.

Gallery[]

Facts[]

  • They can be easily distinguished between males and females. Because males have a longer and thicker neck, together with a larger size, they can be easily distinguished between males and females.
  • This species usually feeds on other sea lions and even seals, although they have also been recorded feeding on their own species.
  • Their predators are usually sharks and killer whales. Due to its habitat.
  • Males grow up to 3.25 m and a maximum of 1,120 kg.
  • A male can copulate with up to 30 females.
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